How can shelters increase adoptions?

Dog training!  A recent article on the ZoomRoom website highlights new research confirming that even moderately trained dogs are more likely to be adopted from animal shelters. In the study, trained dogs were adopted about 1.5 times as frequently as dogs without basic training, corroborating the observations of the article’s author, that dogs in shelters “who exhibit friendly ‘pet-like’ behavior are the quickest to be adopted”.

Lola McKnight Co-founder of Shelter Animal Advocacy Fund, LA and Dog Trainer & Behavior Specialist completely agrees: “At the West LA city shelter we have an on going training program made up of volunteers and dog trainers. We work with as many of the dogs as possible teaching them basic obedience. Every time we show a dog who knows "sit" or walks well on leash, people are much more interested in adopting them. In addition, our dogs who participate in the K9 Connection program (at risk kids training shelter dogs) are also much more likely to be adopted.”

Prioritizing basic training for dogs at shelters is good on a number of levels: it keeps the dogs socialized and teaches them manners which, as we’ve seen above, makes them more desirable – but it also keeps them engaged and stimulated, helping prevent depression or other kennel-induced behavior problems that make it harder for a dog to find a home. And of course, for shelters that euthanize, adopting more dogs (faster) can mean fewer animals sent to the kill room.

How can you help? Well, the more volunteers a shelter has, the better its chances of being able to spare some resources to train the dogs – so do what you can! Walk dogs, train them, or just take on some shelter duties to free staff up to make this critical commitment. Fostering also helps – foster parents train and socialize dogs while caring for them in a home environment, helping to make sure they’re at their most adoptable.

So reach out to your local shelter now, to see what you can do to help them adopt out more dogs – helping a dog learn “sit” could save its life!

Children’s books you can use to teach compassion

In a world where violence and gore no longer elicit shock, it’s little wonder that some children are growing up thinking that it’s OK to abuse others, whether animal or human. But it’s not OK – and it’s the responsibility of parents, teachers and influential adults to help children learn and understand the concepts of compassion, empathy and humanity, starting as young as possible.

Stories are powerful tools in our humane education toolkit – reading to and/or with a child not only encourages literacy but helps to stimulate their natural curiosity, and introduces concepts of humane living in age-appropriate context.

The Institute of Humane Education has a new Children’s Literature section on their website, where they list some fantastic book suggestions for children of all ages. Options include fiction and non-fiction, picture books and chapter books – why not start by checking out the books listed under the “animal protection” category? There are some great Thanksgiving titles, or you could help a kid learn about adopting a dog, or why it’s not a good thing for cats to keep having kittens.

Come to think of it, some of these books might be useful for adults too!

 

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Animal Rescue Volunteers – all they’re missing are capes!

Volunteers at a horse rescue – grooming, fixing fences and mending shelters – somebody’s got to do it!

Rebecca Poling’s latest Examiner article really sums up the daily heroic actions that animal rescue volunteers routinely take in stride.

Sometimes those heroic efforts are dangerous, extreme and all-out – when natural disaster strikes or yet another puppy mill is exposed and animals need to be airlifted to safety. These are the ones that make the news and thank goodness they don’t happen every day.

But more often, those heroic efforts are the daily gifts of time, attention, love and skill given by volunteers who sacrifice social lives, space in their homes and down time to keep the trains running in shelters and for animal rescue organizations nation-wide. These are the people who make sure animals are fed, cages are cleaned, prospective pets are socialized. These are the folk who put themselves out there to raise the funds that keep organizations’ doors open and animals alive. These are the ones who have to make hard decisions and take heartbreaking action every day because our society is conditioned to dispose of anything that is no longer convenient, and to blithely absolve itself of any accountability for the wellbeing of creatures in its care. These people are quiet heroes and deserve our deepest gratitude for their compassion, commitment and care. 

Everyone who takes a stand, who acts in defense of animals – however small that action – is a hero. Everyone who gives up something to make this world a better place for people and animals – no matter how small that sacrifice – is a hero. Sometimes it’s like holding back the tide, but every single person who keeps going and spreads compassion in the face of overwhelming odds every day is a hero.

The article’s last paragraph really sums it up: “Animal rescue is hard. It’s physically demanding and emotionally draining.  There is never enough money nor volunteers, and there is never enough time.  But they persevere. These are my heroes.”

Want to be a hero, too?  Volunteer, donate, foster or adopt. And if you work for a company that matches your donations or volunteer hours, take advantage of that to double your impact!

For more info:

• Volunteer match lists lots of volunteer opportunities with local rescue groups
• To donate visit JustGive and find an organization to support. 
• Want to adopt?  Check Petfinder for a list of area rescue groups and the homeless pets available now.

Using eBay for fun and (non) profit!

These darling little 18” diameter pet beds were recently posted on eBay as an eBay Giving Works charitable listing. That means that 10% of the proceeds from each sale will benefit Companions for Life.

First up, THANK YOU to spigem-1 for generously sharing the wealth (and Kudos for strategic placement of Model Chihuahua to showcase the fabulousness of your product – do the beds come ready-populated with one?!) – and thumbs up to eBay for helping people effortlessly do good while they indulge in some recreational commerce!

In fact, it’s so easy that over $126 million has found its way to charitable causes through the Giving Works program on eBay. So how can you get on the bandwagon? Well, buying something on eBay is a no-brainer with little blue-and-yellow ribbons identifying listings that support nonprofits, and it’s not just businesses who can donate a portion of their sale profits.

Anyone who posts something for sale can do it – so why not consider a charitable listing when it comes to selling that elliptical trainer that’s never been employed as anything but an expensive clothes rack or your ex boyfriend’s creepy boggle-eyed goldfish bowl. And in fact, you don’t even need to buy or sell something – if you’re still dipping your toe into the online auction space but you have a Paypal account, you can make an online cash donation of as little as $1 - or as much as your bank account can handle - to any nonprofit in the eBay Giving Works program!

Isn’t it great to do good without leaving home? Now go buy that pet bed – your pooch won’t be the only animal thanking you!

Here in this house...........

Here in this house...........
I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs 'out there'.
I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.
I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.
I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.
I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness,
and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.
My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house...
There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.
I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand,
I can enjoy the warmth of the words.
I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.
My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!

Here in this house...
I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.
I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves.
I will be loved because I am who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be.
I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.
I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.
If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.

Here in this house...
I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch...
knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.
If I am ill, I will be doctored.
If scared, I will be calmed.
If sad, I will be cheered.
No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and thought to be of value.
I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough.
My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.
I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.

Here in this house...
I will belong.
I will be home.

(anonymous)

Canines, Cats and Cabernet on Sunday, November 8

Operation Kindness is North Texas’ largest and oldest no-kill shelter and they’d like to invite you to sip on fine wines, sample delicious hors d'oeuvres and bid on more than 200 outstanding auction items while mingling with fellow animal lovers at a benefit on November 8th.

It's from 3pm to 6pm at the Marriott Legacy Town Center (don't worry, the Cowboys play at night, so you can still get home in time for the game!) - for more information and to purchase tickets, please visit their website:
http://www.operationkindness.org/events/ccc_2009/

Garland taking steps in the right direction

Garland’s Mayor has been taking some positive steps to address the situation with the city’s shelter, as Rebecca Poling outlines in her recent Examiner article, but he’s got a ways to go and he’s going to have to be a champion change agent if he’s going to overcome the obdurate resistance of his own City Council. He has the support of the public, shelter management and even the shelter employees to improve shelter practices and programs, but he faces an uphill battle and is going to need continued public support as he tries to blaze a new, progressive path for the city’s animal shelter. We urge you to keep up the pressure on the City Council until they listen to their constituents and get with the program!

A group that works to unchain dogs

When Companions for Life worked with other animal advocates in the metroplex to champion the new city ordinances adopted in Dallas last year, one of those laws specified (among other things) that a dog cannot be tethered unless it is in the immediate possession and control of its owner – or it can only be tethered for no longer than is necessary (less than 3 hours) for the owner to complete a temporary task.

If a dog has to be confined outdoors, it must be in a fenced yard or other pen or structure that:  (i) is capable of preventing the escape of the dog;  (ii) has at least 150 sq. ft. of space per adult dog; and (iii) provides the dog access to the inside of a building, a dog house or other type of shelter.

In North Carolina, a positive, upbeat group of people called Coalition to Unchain Dogs is doing awesome work proactively reaching out to dog owners in that state and helping them comply with laws like this by building fenced areas in which a dog can live unchained.

Check out this video of one of their recent projects – it’s a joy to see how happy and grateful that dog is when his heavy chain is removed and he can run free! You can see more happy stories on their website - http://unchaindogs.net/tails.html.

These groups are doing great work – not only do they ensure spay/neuter services are provided to dogs they help, but their positive stance is more likely to change minds and open hearts of people who think it’s OK to chain their dog than just about anything else.

OTHER GROUPS WORKING TO UNCHAIN DOGS:

Fences for Fido

Dogs Deserve Better

Helping Animals

Mothers Against Dog Chaining

Chained dogs are unhappy, unsafe and dangerous – please don’t leave your dog tethered all day – find a group who can help you build a fence, and your dog’s gratitude and happiness will reduce your liability immediately!